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Asiana Pilots Flew Slow, Steady Descent
By Sean Broderick [email protected],
John Croft [email protected]
Source: AWIN First
July 08, 2013
Credit: Justin Sullivan
Investigators probing the July 6 crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are working to understand what caused the Boeing 777-200ER to make a slow, steady descent into a sea wall just short of its assigned runway, and why the flight crew did not detect a problem until just seconds before the plane hit.
While it is too soon to draw firm conclusions, information released by NTSB officials paints a clear picture of what happened just before the accident. The aircraft slowed below its minimum safe landing speed well before touchdown, and hit a sea wall just short of the airfield. The crew did not indicate any trouble with the plane or the approach until seconds before the plane hit, and investigators have not revealed anything that points to a mechanical malfunction.
Based on what investigators have confirmed, all seemed normal as Flight 214 approached SFO following a routine flight from Incheon International Airport. The crew, cleared for a visual approach, verified that the 777’s landing gear was down and the flaps set to 30 deg., says NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman explained. The pilots set 137 kt. as a target speed for crossing the runway threshold, Hersman confirmed today at a media briefing. A “very early read” of flight data recorder (FDR) information shows the aircraft’s airspeed declined steadily as it approached the airfield. Airspeed dropped below the targeted landing speed to 134 kt. when the plane was about 500 ft. above ground at 34 sec. before impact, she says. Airspeed continued to decline until just before impact, reaching a minimum speed of 103 kt. 3 sec. before the plane hit. Airspeed was 105 sec. when the plane hit the sea wall, she says.
Based on the coughpit voice recorder (CVR), Hersman says at 7 sec. before impact, one crewmember called for an increase in speed, and at 4 sec. before hitting the sea wall, the stick shaker—indicating an imminent stall—is heard. At 1.5 sec. before impact, Hersman says a crewmember called for a go-around, and both Pratt & Whitney PW4090 engines “appear[ed] to respond normally.”
Follow the link for the rest of the story.
By Sean Broderick [email protected],
John Croft [email protected]
Source: AWIN First
Credit: Justin Sullivan
Investigators probing the July 6 crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are working to understand what caused the Boeing 777-200ER to make a slow, steady descent into a sea wall just short of its assigned runway, and why the flight crew did not detect a problem until just seconds before the plane hit.
While it is too soon to draw firm conclusions, information released by NTSB officials paints a clear picture of what happened just before the accident. The aircraft slowed below its minimum safe landing speed well before touchdown, and hit a sea wall just short of the airfield. The crew did not indicate any trouble with the plane or the approach until seconds before the plane hit, and investigators have not revealed anything that points to a mechanical malfunction.
Based on what investigators have confirmed, all seemed normal as Flight 214 approached SFO following a routine flight from Incheon International Airport. The crew, cleared for a visual approach, verified that the 777’s landing gear was down and the flaps set to 30 deg., says NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman explained. The pilots set 137 kt. as a target speed for crossing the runway threshold, Hersman confirmed today at a media briefing. A “very early read” of flight data recorder (FDR) information shows the aircraft’s airspeed declined steadily as it approached the airfield. Airspeed dropped below the targeted landing speed to 134 kt. when the plane was about 500 ft. above ground at 34 sec. before impact, she says. Airspeed continued to decline until just before impact, reaching a minimum speed of 103 kt. 3 sec. before the plane hit. Airspeed was 105 sec. when the plane hit the sea wall, she says.
Based on the coughpit voice recorder (CVR), Hersman says at 7 sec. before impact, one crewmember called for an increase in speed, and at 4 sec. before hitting the sea wall, the stick shaker—indicating an imminent stall—is heard. At 1.5 sec. before impact, Hersman says a crewmember called for a go-around, and both Pratt & Whitney PW4090 engines “appear[ed] to respond normally.”
Follow the link for the rest of the story.
